EVALUATION OF CHESTNUT (Castenea sativa) AND ZINC SULPHATE AS EUBIOTICS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS
EVALUATION OF CHESTNUT (Castenea sativa) AND ZINC SULPHATE AS EUBIOTICS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS
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Date
2021-03
Authors
DIALOKE, Nnamdi Godswill
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Abstract
Two Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of broiler chickens fed diets
supplemented with graded levels of Chestnut (Castenea sativa) Phytobiotics and Zinc Sulphate
respectively, as eubiotics to replace antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). In each feeding trial,
300-day-old cobb 500 broiler chicks were allotted in a completely randomized design to five
dietary treatments each replicated thrice, with 20 chicks per replicate. In Experiment 1, Chestnut
Phytobiotics was included at 0g, 100g, 125g and 150g/100 Kg diet while Oxytetracycline was
included at 111g/100kg diet. In Experiment 2, Zinc Sulphate was included at 0mg, 10mg, 20mg
and 30mg/100 Kg diet while Oxytetracycline was included at 111g/100kg diet. Data was
collected on growth performance, haematological parameters, serum biochemical parameters,
lipid profiles, nutrient digestibility, villi morphometry, intestinal microbial composition, carcass
evaluation and economic indices. In Experiment 1, results for the starter phase showed that birds
placed on 100g phytobiotics diet had significantly (P<0.05) high final weight and weight gain
than other supplemented diets and the control. Weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher in
the oxytetracycline based diet (1783g) for finisher phase however, there was an improvement in
values for birds placed on phytobiotics. Haematological indices showed that values for white
blood cell (91.90x103/μL) and Heterophils (20.63%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets
containing oxytetracycline than other treatment groups. Birds fed diets containing 100g
phytobiotics were significantly (P<0.05) higher in values for red blood cell, monocytes,
eosinophils and basophils. Chestnut phytobiotics reduced the total cholesterol values from
151.13 - 96.55mg/dL when compared to other treatment groups. Apparent nutrient digestibility
showed higher significant (P<0.05) difference in crude protein for birds fed diets with 100g
phytobiotics (76.15%) when compared to other treatment groups. Villi morphometry showed
significant (P<0.05) differences in all the parameters measured except for crypt depth. There
were significant (P<0.05) differences for values of Lactobacillus spp and Bacillus spp, whereas
non-significant (P>0.05) differences were observed for Escherichia coli, Clostridium spp and
Salmonella spp. Intestinal bacteria count revealed that Lactobacillus spp, a beneficial bacteria
was significantly higher and best in diet containing 100g phytobiotics (15.33x103cfu/g) when
compared to that of the control (5.00x103cfu/g) but similar to that fed diets with oxytetracycline
(10.67x103cfu/g). The mean yield cost decreased as the levels of phytobiotics increased. In
experiment 2, results for the starter phase showed significant (P<0.05) differences in all the growth parameters measured except feed intake and mortality. Birds supplemented on diets with
10mg of zinc were significantly (P<0.05) higher in final weight (783.33g/bird) and weight gain
(742.16g/bird). Birds which had access to 20mg (93.33x103/μL), 30mg zinc and oxytetracycline
were significantly (P<0.05) higher in WBC when compared to the control group (59.40x103/μL)
but statistically similar to the birds placed on 10mg (72.97x103/μL) zinc. The results for
aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aninotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly
(P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment that resulted to the increase in the amount of these
enzymes which were produced by the liver. Birds on the control diet had significantly (P<0.05)
higher values of AST and ALT while those on diets with 30mg zinc had higher (P<0.05) value
for ALP. Oxytetracycline inclusion resulted to a significant (P<0.05) increase in the total
cholesterol (90.63mg/dL) whereas those on diets with 20mg zinc had the least (74.61mg/dL).
Triglyceride was significantly (P<0.05) different across the treatment groups, with birds on diets
with 30mg zinc (95.49g/dL) having a higher value while those on diets with 20mg zinc had the
least (24.49g/dL). There were significant (P<0.05) differences in crude protein, digestibility diet
with group fed diet 10mg (76.47%), 20mg (78.95%), 30mg (80.66%) and oxytetracycline
(76.87%) level having higher values compared to that of the control (64.18%). Zinc and
oxytetracycline inclusion greatly improved soluble carbohydrate digestibility and utilization.Villi
area (29919μm2), width (164.36μm), height/crypt depth ratio (5.03μm) were higher in birds fed
control diet than other treatment groups except for oxytetracycline which was similar in villi
height/crypt depth ratio (5.20μm). The value for villi width and height/crypt depth ratio
decreased with an increase in the levels of zinc. Lactobacilli spp was significantly (P<0.05)
higher and best in birds placed on control diet (15.00x103cfu/g), followed by 20mg zinc
(9.67x103cfu/g) dietary level. Salmonellaspp was significantly (P<0.05) lower in birds which had
access to 20mg zinc (0.00x103cfu/g) but statistically similar with those on the control diet
(1.67x103cfu/g) and 30mg zinc (2.67x103cfu/g). Birds placed on diets with 10mg zinc and
oxytetracycline were significantly higher in live weight , dressed weight and dressing percent.
Feed cost/Kg (119.95N/Kg) was the same across the treatment groups except for oxytetracycline
(124.35N/Kg) which had a higher value.It is concluded that chestnut phytobiotics though did not
significantly improve feed intake above the antibiotic growth promoters for starters but however,
improved the weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost/Kg gain for both starter and finisher chickens. Zinc did not significantly improve villi height/crypt depth ratio of broiler
chickens, but significantly lowered mortality, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain.
Description
A DISSERTATIONSUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EVALUATION,, CHESTNUT,, (Castenea sativa),, ZINC SULPHATE,, EUBIOTICS,, PERFORMANCE,, BROILER CHICKENS.